Mavericks: ‘passion for a wider cause’ in the changing world of classical music

In my six-part podcast, Music Mavericks, I seek out conversations with musicians who haven't taken the 'traditional' path into performance. In a conservative classical music industry (CMI), which arguably needs to break away from ingrained traditions for relevance and survival in a globally changing world, putting a spotlight on mavericks could be the gateway to heightened creativity and innovation.

Music Mavericks uses first-hand experiences to understand the current narratives in the CMI, and I've used some of these quotes here.

Elite musicians require a broad range of skills to successfully forge a career (see Dawn Bennett's 2016 book, Understanding the Classical Music Profession). Fundamentally, they must strive for the highest of artistic practices. However, this alone will not stand up in a society where it seems increasingly hard to sustain a career in performance, despite this often being considered the 'gold standard' of success.

'You are taught at music college that success is becoming a soloist or getting a job in an orchestra. And actually, there are so many incredible ways that people use their music degree… and they are hugely successful.' Episode 1

Similarly, organisations such as orchestras and opera companies are having to diversify and embrace new practices to attract audiences, meet funding agendas, and hold their place in a changing society, with varying creativity and success.

'I think classical music and the ways in which we transmit it are quite rigid and they don't allow, between a performer and audience, that kind of spontaneous connection.' Episode 4

Research by Helena Gaunt and others shows that Higher Music Education Institutions are 're-conceptualising professional training' for emerging musicians, responding to unstable global situations.

'We're getting a lot better as an industry at meeting people where they are and helping them carve out their own path.' Episode 2

Literature suggests that musicians who have experienced a more extensive range of musical opportunities during their tertiary training have increased job opportunities and improved wellbeing (see, for example, Rosie Perkins and colleagues 2017 qualitative study in a music conservatoire setting, via tinyurl.com/3r7t4wxw). However, transformation is challenging, particularly in traditional and conservative organisations in which change can often be interpreted as threat. This is where mavericks come in.

The work of Ree Jordan at the University of Queensland focuses talented individuals who have the potential to innovate and assist an organisation in achieving transformational change. 'Mavericks' are often able to see innate cultures and assumptions that are responsible for holding back evolution. If allowed to identify rigid thinking within organisations, mavericks can be the catalyst for profound change.

'[These] conversations are uncomfortable conversations… it's not just about let's bring the CMI into the 21st century and open it up to more people. It's to do with the mental health of the people who are in that industry… and it's not okay… to be treated like that. Now, because these conversations are being had, it affords us a way to look at it pragmatically and tackle it.' Episode 1

However, organisations often see mavericks as non-conformists who, in challenging the socio-cultural norms, are disruptive, even disrespectful, to those who defend traditions that have seemingly served the sector well.

'I am authentic and I have strong beliefs about a lot of things... And I think now looking back at studying opera or classical music, no wonder I didn't feel like I fit in. I didn't want to just do the status quo.' Episode 6

But far from being workplace deviants who rebel against rules, mavericks do conform. Their boundary pushing and independent thinking, although often seen as going against the status quo, is misidentified: it is these skills, along with passion, that enables achievement of higher-level organisational ambitions (Ellioroma Gardiner and Chris Jackson have studied this in a workplace context). Using the term bounded non-conformity, Jordan describes mavericks' behaviour as being governed by a set of underlying principles guiding their actions. Although not exclusively, this often aligns with universally held beliefs such as equity, integrity and inclusion.

Music Mavericks illustrates this. In interviewing those I considered to be some of the mavericks of the CMI, I heard a passion for a wider cause. Common words used during conversations were: collaboration; connection; authenticity; humanity.

'I want to lead with the human part of me, the part that connects to other people before I think about pragmatism. Yeah, everybody has slightly different common goals, but if we want things to endure and we want things to last, it's only through the human connections that we make that we can do that.' Episode 1

With all my guests, focus was on the individual as the conduit of this art form; the wider community who engage with it; and the interplay between the two as an important tool for society. Perhaps it's time for all of us to embrace mavericks, to benefit from their talents and ideas.

Miche Robinson recently completed an MSc in Psychology (conversion) at Manchester Metropolitan University and is going on to do a PhD at Loughborough University, researching music teacher-musician relationships in an elite environment. Listen to Music Mavericks on Spotify.